The Tinfoil Barb (Barbus schwanefeldi) is a tropical fish belonging to the Barb family (Cyprinidae). Originating in Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malayan peninsula, this fish is sometimes kept in the fish keeping hobby. The silver fish has bright, shiny scales and red-orange and black fins. It is one of the largest species of Barbs growing up to 14 inches (36 cm) in length.

The Tinfoil Barb is a schooling species that prefers to be placed with a number of its own species. It prefers living in water with strong currents similar to those found in their native streams. It is also recommended that they be kept with fish of similar size or larger.

The Tinfoil Barb is an active, peaceful species that spends most of its time in the mid-level and bottom of the water. While the fish occasionally eats insects, small fish, worms and crustaceans, it is largely an herbivore that consumes plants, especially tender plants and those that are not adequately rooted into the substrate, and filamentous algae. A greedy eater, it will attempts to fill its mouth with as much food as possible during feedings. In captivity, it will eat almost anything provided to it.

Tinfoil Barbs have a lifespan of 8 to 10 years. They live natively in a tropical climate and prefer water with a 6.5–7.0 pH, a water hardness of up to 10 dGH, and a temperature range of 72–77 °F (22–25 °C).

There are no obvious distinquishing characteristics used to determine the sex of the fish. They reproduce by egg scattering of several thousand eggs per spawning. They are not often bred in captivity due to their large size.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

References

• "Barbonymus schwanenfeldii (http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=4765)". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. April 2004 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2004.
• "Barbus schwanefeldi" (TSN 163653) (http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=163653). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. N.p.: Integrated Taxonomic Information System, 2004. Accessed on April 28, 2004.
• Lambert, Derek J (1997). Freshwater Aquarium Fish. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books. pp. 16. ISBN 0-7858-0867-1.
• Sharpe, Shirlie (2004). "Tinfoil Barb (http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/cyprinids2/p/tinfoilbarb.htm)." Your Guide to Freshwater Aquariums. Accessed on December 15, 2004.